God's Direction
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle A
If it's true that our family of origin defines who we are from the moment of our birth, then Marvin is a shining example. Marvin is the youngest of three children; both his older sisters were born with severe mental retardation. Marvin says that when his sisters were born in the mid-1950s the family doctor instructed his parents immediately to send the girls to an institution where they could be cared for. The doctor also told his parents that they should not have any more children. "It's a good thing," Marvin says with a chuckle, "Mom and Dad did not listen or I would not be here."
Marvin remembers his early years in school when his classmates would make fun of students with learning disabilities and other handicapping conditions. "They were so cruel." He would feel bad for those children being made fun of by others. For this reason he was hesitant to bring friends to his home. He was afraid to tell his friends about his sisters or they might think something was wrong with him and begin making fun of him. One weekend each month Marvin and his parents would travel two hundred miles, to the other end of the state, to visit his sisters. "We did this for years," he says.
As a young person Marvin was searching for what God wanted him to do with his life. He always enjoyed being around people. It was no surprise to anyone who knew him that his first job was driving a school bus.
He enjoyed interacting with the students on a daily basis. The students thought he was funny and would joke with him. During this time he also worked as a carpenter at his father's shop. Five years later Marvin felt God calling him in another direction, so he quit both of his jobs and enrolled in a Bible college in one of the western states. He admits one of the reasons was that the college catalog had pictures of students back-packing through the Rocky Mountains. "I thought it would be fun," Marvin explains.
One year later Marvin was back home, where he enrolled in a nearby Bible college. Upon graduation Marvin served as pastor of a small church for six years. Again his love for people shined through everything he did. Somewhere deep inside he felt that God wanted him to do something else with his life.
One day, out of the blue, someone called asking if he would be interested in being the director of a halfway house for the mentally challenged. The person explained that the people living at these homes, throughout the county, held jobs during the day. They needed supervision and group activities during the evenings and on weekends. There were some who required more care. Marvin prayed about this opportunity. With the support of his family, he accepted the position.
Marvin has a real passion for helping the mentally challenged. It is obvious how much he loves them. When he speaks at service clubs Marvin always brings one of the residents with him, introducing the resident and allowing the person to say a few words to the group. Each week he leads worship, encouraging residents to participate.
Marvin always treats the residents as children of God who are of great value to God, as they are for him.
With a sense of certainty Marvin says, "This is what God wants me to do."
Marvin remembers his early years in school when his classmates would make fun of students with learning disabilities and other handicapping conditions. "They were so cruel." He would feel bad for those children being made fun of by others. For this reason he was hesitant to bring friends to his home. He was afraid to tell his friends about his sisters or they might think something was wrong with him and begin making fun of him. One weekend each month Marvin and his parents would travel two hundred miles, to the other end of the state, to visit his sisters. "We did this for years," he says.
As a young person Marvin was searching for what God wanted him to do with his life. He always enjoyed being around people. It was no surprise to anyone who knew him that his first job was driving a school bus.
He enjoyed interacting with the students on a daily basis. The students thought he was funny and would joke with him. During this time he also worked as a carpenter at his father's shop. Five years later Marvin felt God calling him in another direction, so he quit both of his jobs and enrolled in a Bible college in one of the western states. He admits one of the reasons was that the college catalog had pictures of students back-packing through the Rocky Mountains. "I thought it would be fun," Marvin explains.
One year later Marvin was back home, where he enrolled in a nearby Bible college. Upon graduation Marvin served as pastor of a small church for six years. Again his love for people shined through everything he did. Somewhere deep inside he felt that God wanted him to do something else with his life.
One day, out of the blue, someone called asking if he would be interested in being the director of a halfway house for the mentally challenged. The person explained that the people living at these homes, throughout the county, held jobs during the day. They needed supervision and group activities during the evenings and on weekends. There were some who required more care. Marvin prayed about this opportunity. With the support of his family, he accepted the position.
Marvin has a real passion for helping the mentally challenged. It is obvious how much he loves them. When he speaks at service clubs Marvin always brings one of the residents with him, introducing the resident and allowing the person to say a few words to the group. Each week he leads worship, encouraging residents to participate.
Marvin always treats the residents as children of God who are of great value to God, as they are for him.
With a sense of certainty Marvin says, "This is what God wants me to do."
